1955 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during  1955 in New Zealand.

Population

 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,164,800.
 * Increase since 31 December 1954: 46,400 (2.19%).
 * Males per 100 females: 101.2.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, from 6 February 1952
 * Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Norrie GCMG GCVO CB DSO MC, from 1952 to 1957

Government
The 31st New Zealand Parliament continued. In power was the National government under Sidney Holland.


 * Speaker of the House – Mathew Oram from 1950 to 1957
 * Prime Minister – Sidney Holland from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
 * Deputy Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957.
 * Minister of Finance – Jack Watts from November 1954 until 20 September 1957
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs – Tom Macdonald from 26 November 1954 until 12 December 1957
 * Chief Justice — Sir Harold Barrowclough

Parliamentary opposition

 * Leader of the Opposition –  Walter Nash (Labour).

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – John Luxford from 1953 to 1956
 * Mayor of Hamilton – Roderick Braithwaite from 1953 to 1959
 * Mayor of Wellington – Robert Macalister from 1950 to 1956
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Robert M. Macfarlane from 1938 to 1941 and again from 1950 to 1958
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Leonard Morton Wright from 1950 to 1959

Events

 * A pulp and paper mill opens at Kawerau
 * The Rimutaka rail tunnel opened
 * The Marriage Act 1955 is passed

Arts and literature
See 1955 in art, 1955 in literature

Music
See: 1955 in music

Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film
See: Category:1955 film awards, 1955 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1955 films

Athletics

 * Arthur Lydiard wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:42:34 in Auckland.

Chess

 * The 62nd National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by Ortvin Sarapu of Auckland (his 4th successive title).

Harness racing

 * New Zealand Trotting Cup – Our Roger
 * Auckland Trotting Cup – Prince Polka

Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington.
 * Men's singles champion – J.H. Rabone (Northern Bowling Club)
 * Men's pair champions – W.R. Hawkins, M.G. Borich (skip) (Hamilton Bowling Club)
 * Men's fours champions – J. Whitehead, E.A. Horan, A. Robinson, I.B. Evans (skip) (Omarunui Bowling Club)

Soccer

 * The Chatham Cup is won by Western of Christchurch who beat Eastern Suburbs of Auckland 6–2 in the final.
 * New Zealand played 3 matches against South China Athletic
 * 18 June, Christchurch – 1–1 draw
 * 2 July, Wellington – NZ win 7-4
 * 9 July, Auckland – NZ lose 3-5
 * Provincial league champions:
 * Auckland:	Mount Albert GSOB
 * Bay of Plenty:	Mangakino Utd
 * Buller:	Millerton Thistle
 * Canterbury:	Western
 * Hawke's Bay:	Napier Rovers
 * Manawatu:	Kiwi United
 * Nelson:	Motueka
 * Northland:	Otangarei United
 * Otago:	King Edward Technical College OB
 * Poverty Bay:	Eastern Union
 * South Canterbury:	West End
 * Southland:	Invercargill Thistle
 * Taranaki:	Old Boys
 * Waikato:	Huntly Thistle
 * Wanganui:	Wanganui Athletic
 * Wellington:	Stop Out

Births

 * 16 January: Steve Wooddin, soccer player
 * 14 February: Margaret Knighton, equestrian eventer
 * 31 March: Robert Vance, cricketer
 * 2 April: Steve Sumner, soccer player
 * 21 April: Tūheitia Paki, Māori King
 * 27 May: Graham 'Jock' Edwards, cricketer
 * 1 June: Lorraine Moller, long-distance athlete
 * 19 June: Mary O'Connor, long-distance runner
 * 16 September: Peter Verhoek, cricketer
 * 29 September: Mark Graham, rugby league footballer and coach
 * 1 November: Anne Audain, middle and long-distance athlete
 * 12 November: Roger Sumich, cyclist
 * 26 November: Barbara Tilden, field hockey player
 * 2 December: Mark Gosche, politician
 * 7 December: Te Ururoa Flavell, politician
 * David Hamilton, composer

Deaths

 * 31 January: Bob Semple, trade union leader and politician.
 * 7 May: Melville Lyons, politician
 * 24 May: Louis Hekenui Bidois, policeman
 * 5 June (in England): George Skellerup, industrialist
 * 7 September: Henry Braddon, rugby union player.
 * 14 December: William Stewart, politician.
 * Undated: John Guthrie (at sea) journalist and novelist.